Dengue cases rise

THE Ministry of Health has recorded 141 cases of dengue fever for the first three months of this year.

Ministry spokesman Shalvin Deo said the cases had been reported from the Central, Western and the Northern divisions, with the North recording the highest.

He said people who have had dengue before may get severe dengue if they were infected again.

"The symptoms of dengue include fever, headache, pain behind the eyes, joint and muscle pain, rashes, nausea and vomiting and mild bleeding such as nose or gum bleeding."

Mr Deo advises people experiencing severe abdominal pain or persistent vomiting, red spots or patches on the skin, vomiting blood, drowsiness or irritability or difficulty in breathing to see a doctor immediately.

He said people should also clean their compounds and bury empty tins and containers to stop mosquitoes breeding.

Meanwhile, AAP reported late yesterday that Australia has sent a medical team to the Solomon Islands in response to an outbreak of dengue fever.

Foreign Minister Bob Carr said the Australian government had agreed to send staff to the National Referral Hospital in Honiara and provincial hospitals, following a request from the Solomon Islands government.

Senator Carr said there had been three deaths and more than 2000 suspected or proven cases of dengue fever across the Solomons since the outbreak began in January, with 276 cases reported in the past five days.